A Six-Pack & a Shot at Love (Love on the Rocks #1)(11)
She thought about the phone call with Cherie earlier and how she was shocked at the series of events. But then Cherie, Gianna, Louisa, Pina, and Rose looked up pictures of Roman, Garvan, and Apollo Corbias, and they started carrying on about ménage encounters and getting over not having sex in two years with three hot rich stud muffins, as Cherie called them.
She had to smile even now. They were crazy.
As Venetia walked the grounds, she thought about Apollo, Garvan, and Roman. They could get any woman they wanted, and they knew it. This woman, Clarette whoever, was after their money, just like they were after a piece of ass. All the power to them. That’s not my world. That’s a world I ran far from and will never associate with again.
She began walking around the perimeter of the hotel, taking more pictures. She already had the videographer adding some finishing touches, and she just needed a few more special pictures. When she rounded the corner of the building to head toward the pavilion where people could entertain, throw small gatherings, and where little concerts, put on by the hotel, took place on the weekends, she noticed four little girls all dressed up and ready to have a tea party. They had already set the table and were talking to one another with English accents as a group of adults gathered by the shaded tables, enjoying wine and food. It was the perfect picture of family fun, something inviting and natural. She began to shoot the scene, noting that this was the perfect ending to the video, which was due in Apollo’s office later today.
By the time she was finished, she would drive out to her cousin Cena’s for the barbecue and weekend boat trip. It would be the perfect ending to a stressful week. When she thought about gathering with her cousin and her three boyfriends, Ned, Ken, and Brian, she thought about how close they all had become and how they knew nothing about Conan or what had really happened. Brian was a detective and Ned and Ken cops, but she’d begged Cena to not reveal too much about what had happened to her. She gave them the same story as she’d given her friends. Abusive relationship and Conan had cheated on her. The end.
She swallowed hard and then pushed the thoughts away as she lowered the camera and then looked at the screen. She then went over to the family to make sure it would be okay if they were all in the video and other ads used for the promotion of the hotel. They loved the idea, especially when she showed them the pictures.
“Oh my God, they look so precious. Look, Jim,” one woman said to the man next to her.
Venetia took out her business card. “I can send you copies if you want them. They are so precious you could probably frame them.”
“You would do that?” the other woman asked her.
“Of course. They are absolutely adorable, and a lot of kids don’t get the opportunities to engage in such a fun, normal activity like a tea party. I love it, and it would be my pleasure.”
“Come join us for lunch,” one of the men said to her.
“Oh, that isn’t necessary, plus I have to get these to the studio.”
“Oh, just for a few minutes then.” He winked. He seemed to be one of a few men who weren’t married or with a woman. She said thank you as another woman poured her a glass of wine, and they toasted the pictures, tea parties, and making new friends.
An hour later, Venetia was leaving the gathering and saying good-bye, promising to send the copies when they e-mailed her for them. She noticed the man who had sat next to her and asked a bunch of questions took out his cell phone and then walked away from his friends. She immediately felt her gut clench. Conan came to mind, but then he didn’t know where she was. At least she didn’t think he did. She wondered about it only for the walk back to the hotel parking lot, and then she got the call from the videographer saying he was ready for the final shot.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes, and I got the perfect set. Wait until you see them.” She hoped that Apollo and his brothers liked them. They’d each called her several items this week. Apollo made her nervous and put her on the edge. Roman and Garvan asked how she was doing and if she need their help, yet they were just as demanding in their tones.
Two hours later, she was in the main meeting room of Corb Enterprises. Her hands were shaking. The videographer had thought she was nuts to change the ending of the movie and also the main picture on the brochure until he saw her shots. Now she wondered if the Corbias men would like it as much as she did.
Garvan sat right next to Venetia, who was dressed more casually today. She wore a sleeveless pink blouse along with a pale beige skirt that landed slightly above her knees. The low-heeled sandals revealed how much shorter she was than he and his brothers, as well as how feminine she was. His brothers were nearby, too, and as they watched the video and saw the pictures she’d created, he was utterly impressed. It all gave a more family-themed feel to the high-class hotel and invited families to stay, not just businessmen. He absolutely loved it, especially the end pictures and the family gathering and the little girls having a tea party. As the video ended, the lights came on, and they were silent.
“I’m so impressed, Venetia. It was perfect,” Roman told her, and she smiled.
“Thank you.” She looked at Apollo, and he nodded.
“Surprisingly, I loved it, too. I never thought of the family aspect of the hotel or the amenities and how they cater toward the family atmosphere as well as the business men and women.”
“Excellent job. I’m completely impressed. I love the ending, too. It draws in more attention to the family side of the hotel,” Garvan said next as they all stood up.